1. In your experience, when have you felt successful directly teaching ABOUT New Church concepts?

-When telling worship stories, when helping with conflict resolution, in ongoing conversation, in singing.

-Worship lends itself well to teaching New Church concepts but also behavior. You can talk about "loving your neighbor" ect.

-In management situations. In social studies and science
-In helping children see the way the Lord provides for the needs off all his creation.

-When a child has an "ah-ha" moment: "oh, I see, the lord is always working things out." (1st grade boy after hearing a story in worship and following discussion.
-When students come up with their own insight - on 3rd day after "9/11" a student offered, "the angels must be so busy welcoming all the new people!"
-When student's actions show their learning: one thing to say Golden rule, but to see a child choose to act put in life, that's the best!

-Especially during worship. Example: Egypt in 2nd, science


2. How might the school system help you build on these strengths?

-I wish scriptural songs (inclusind ours but not exclusively) were used in chapel and the classrooms.

-We are very lucky to have a lot of ministers that we can check in with. Teacher worship studies help teachers with their spiritual growth.

-Protecting childhood for children by not increasing academic demands in early years - keep curriculum developmentally appropriate

-Setting aside time for doctrinal study/discussions. For example grants towards studies (which gives values, both emotionally and monitarily).


3. What are some of the challenges you have faced teaching ABOUT New Church concepts?

-Not wanting to hurt children who have divorced parents.

-Biggest challenge was with a student who was new to the system. She wantes to talk about 3 Gods. As a primary level teacher this was not an area I could afford to allow the other students to be confused about. I've also had to "bridge" the gap behavior of a catholic student and the rest of the class in talking about the Pope.

-isolation

-New comers: how do we accomidate to students and parents?
-What is appropriate to the state of students? Freedom to interperet Writings/Teachings in our own way (by teachers and ministers)

4. How might the school system support you in facing these challenges?

-Communication between prospective students and their parents upfront is key. The school system would benefit from a clearly defined proccess for handling problems. They always catch you by surprise and knowing a solid way of how to handle them would be great.

-Get together with grade level groups (k-2) to discuss and share

-School pasters availability - as resources and guest speakers ect.
-Educational doctrine type study for parents.